Cosmic fireworks: NASA scientists released this image of a geyser of hot gas from a newborn star ricocheting off a dense area of cloud and molecular hydrogen. They have compared the picture to a classic Independence Day fireworks display.

A July 2012 study of the galaxy clusters Abell 222 and Abell 223 found they are connected by a dark matter filament, shown here. The blue shading and the yellow contours indicate the density of matter. The image on the sky is about twice as big as the full moon.

Australian based photographer Martin Pugh has claimed the top prize in the Royal Observatory’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition for the second time, after originally winning the accolade back in 2009. As well as securing the £1,500 top prize, his image takes pride of place in the exhibition of winning photographs opening at the Royal Observatory Greenwich on 20 September.

Pugh impressed the judges in this year’s competition with the depth and clarity of his winning shot depicting the famous Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). The image combines incredible detail in the galaxy’s spiral arms with the faint tails of light that show M51’s small companion galaxy being gradually torn apart by the gravity of its giant neighbour; a closer look also reveals more distant galaxies beyond.

Everyone, Famous for dazzling the eye, the Hubble Space Telescope may blow a few minds today too, by peering deeper into the universe—and therefore further back in time—than ever before. 13.6 billion years ago.